Pelham fireworks explosion injures one

A 24-year-old man underwent emergency surgery when a mortar shell fireworks kit exploded in his hand in Pelham Friday night.

This is the second fireworks incident in Pelham that resulted in serious injuries in the last two years.

The man suffered a severe hand injury and heavy bleeding while reloading a mortar shell about 7:15 p.m. The shell exploded in the tube, fire officials said Saturday.

On July 2, 2012, 13 people — five of them children — were hurt at a 40 Dodge Road home when an aerial spinner went awry and ignited a stockpile of 344 unpackaged, reloadable mortar shells stored on the back deck. The incident was ruled an accident and triggered some calls for greater restrictions on fireworks displays.

The man injured Friday night went by ambulance to a local hospital. He was transferred to a Boston hospital for emergency surgery.

Fire officials would not release the victim's name, the address where the incident occurred or if the victim lived there or was visiting.